Float-operated switch



normally open circuit maker and Patented Apr. 13, 1948 FLOAT-OPERATED SWITCH Charles' N. Reavis, Raleigh, N. C., assigner of two-thirds to Silas B. Coley,

Raleigh, N. C.;

Charlotte L. Reavis administratrix of Charles N. Reavis, deceased Application February 3, 1945, Serial No. 575,950

1 Claim.

provision of a float-operated switch embodying' a circuit maker and breaker that includes a lined contact and a movable contact, said movable contact being movable to a position in eny gagement with the xed contact and to a position out of engagement with the fixed contact and being tensioned to normally occupy one cf said positions, said movable Contact carrying an armature, an arm carrying a permanent magnet and movable to bring the iield of its magnet within range of the armature so as to move the movable contact to the other of said positions, or to remove the iield of said magnet out of range of said armature so that the movable contact may return to the one position, and a float for moving the arm so as to bring the field of its magnet within the range of said armature or out of range of the latter.

A more speciiic object of the invention is to provide a float-operated switch embodying a normally closed circuit maker and breaker and a normally open circuit maker and breaker, a verticallymovable oat, and magnetic means movable by said oat for opening the normally `closed circuit maker and breaker when the float is in a predetermined raised position and for closing said breaker when the iloat approaches its lower limit ci movement.

More specic objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when Aconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a substantially central vertical sectional view of a switch constructed'in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view somewhat simliar to Figure 1, but showing the parts in a different position and a diiferent one of the two circuit makers and breakers forming part of the switch shown in Figure l.

In the embodiment shown, the casing bottom water inlet 9 and a top vent it, divided by a vertical partition @a into a, large water compartment 'id and a small compartment 8a. Mounted in the compartment 8a and upon the partition to are circuit makers and breakers 23 and Also, the compartment Ba is closed by a cover Illa.

Journaled in suitable brackets carried by partition to is a horizontal shaft t5 having one end oi a oat arm St iixed thereon. A suitable float 3l is secured on the other or free end oi the arm 3t. Rigid with and projecting upwardly and downwardly from the arm adjacent the shaft are arms ita and 58??, respectively. A. permanent magnet ita is carried by the ireeend of arm 58a, and a similar magnet iilb is carried by the free end ci is such that when the oat 3l -is in its upper limit of movement, the magnet G9a of arm lBa will be moved toward the partition 6a until its 5a has a and it is relatively relatively eld is .brought within range of the armature of circuit maker and breaker 23 so as to cause the latter to assume circuit opening condition. When this takes place, the magnet lh will have been moved so that its field is out of range of the armature of circuit maker and breaker 23', thereby allowing the latter to assume its normally open condition, As soon as iioat 3l lowers a slight extent, the magnet iBa will assume a position wherein its field is out of range of the armature of circuit maker and breaker 23, thereby allowing the latter to close. Upon continued downward movement of the float 3l until it approaches its lower limit of riovement, the magnet i927 will be moved to a position wherein its eld eis brought within range or the armature of circuit maker anci breaker 23, thereby causing the latter to assume circuit-closing condition. Both circuit makers and breakers will be open when the float is in its upper limit of movement, while the circuit maker and breaker 23 will be allowed to close when the float 31 lowers to a slight extent and the circuit maker and breaker 23 will be caused to close when the float 31 completely lowers, the circuit maker and breaker 23 remaining closed when the latter takes place. Thus, the circuit maker and breaker 23 may be used to control the circuit of a warning signal or light, while the circuit maker and breaker 23 the arm i827. The arrangement enseres ncsybeirnsed to control grounding ci an engine distributor.- tlre-ciosing 9i. the circuit of the sigfa nal light being eected-beioresthe level of the mounted in the float chamber and including a rock shaft, arms projecting upwardly from. and

' downwardly from said rock shaft respectively,

water` lowers to a dangerous point; .the Y grounding oi' the distributor to render the engine the invention may be embodied in forms other. than those specically disclosed, and that changes may be made in details of construction illus= trated and described, such-eas fall fwithin the spirit and scope oi the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

A float-operated switch comprising a casing provided with non-communicating doet and contact chambers, said float chamber having a bottom water inlet and a top vent, a normally closed circuit maker and breaker in said contact chamber having a xed contact and a nexible contact carrying an armature and normally tensioned to engage the fixed contact, a second circuit maker and breaker in said contact chamber including a xed contact and a-flexible contact normally tensioned to disengage from the associated fixed contact and carrying an amature.

and actuating means for said flexible contacts permanent Amagnets carried by the free ends oi said arms, a o'at arm rigid with said shaft and carrying naat.; the 'upwardly extending erm being arranged so that; its magnet is moved to bring its eld within range-.cin` the amature of the Vfdrst circuitmaker and breakerwhen the @oat is raised, said downwardly extending arm being arranged so that the eld oi' its magnet is brought within range of the armature of the second-named circuit maker and breaker when the oat lis lowered.

REFERENCES @mail The ioilovving references are of record in the 

